Combined stopper and bulb syringe



Dec. 2T, 1927.

H. K. MULFORD COMBINED STOPPER AND BULB SYRINGE Filed Feb. 1 1927 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,554,261: PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY K. M'ULFORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 1T0 NATIUNAL DRUG CO., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

COMBINED STOPPER AND BULB SYRING'E.

Application filed February 15, 1927.

My invention relates to a new and useful combined stopper and bulb syringe, and more particularly to a syringe which is especially adapted for the injection of antisep tie and prophylactic and similar medicinal solutions into internal organs of the human btuly, as in the lavage of urethral and vag iual tracts and Sll'llllttl. uses.

My invention further relates to a bulb syringe of this character which will also serve as a stopper for the bottle or other receptacle containing the solution to be ad ministered, thereby eliminating they need for a separate and independent closure for such receptacle.

My invention further provides a novel combined stopper and bulb syringe, which will be sterile and sanitary at all times, thereby not only preventing any possible infection, but also rendering the same quickly available for use at all times and eliminab ing the necessity of repeated sterilization and disinfection that would otherwise be necessary, whenever it is desired to use the device.

My invention still further resides in the provision oil a combined stopper and bulb syringe, in an integral, unitary structure, which occupies a n'iinimui'n amount of space in a medicine closet or emergency kit and the like, which is convenient for the patient to use, and which may be at all times instantly available for use thus insuring reg ularity of applying solutions tor treatn'ient, and one which is less expensive to manu'tacture and distribute.

It has been the practice hereto-fore, to employ bulb syringes manufactiu'ed and sold iiutlependently oil? the recr-ipincle ciintainiug the solution to be injected. Obviously when such syringe "as not in actual use, the same was ordinarily stored or kept in a container or closet, where the tube portion thercol, that is, the portion to be introducetil into the urethral or vaginal tract or other internal organ of the body, came in contact with air and other objects and was thereby contaminated. Thus, before such syringe was lit for use, it was necessary thoroughly to sterilize the same, all of which was not only laborious and time consuming, but was often impossible or diliicult of accomplisln'nent, particularly it and when the same was being used by a layman without professional aid. This practice further necessitated pur- Serial No. 168,230.

chase and keeping of a separate, additional article, which in addition to the cost of manufacture of the article, was not altogether convenient since the same occupied additional space and was always liable to be inislaid, broken or lost.

it is the object-cit my invention to provide a syringe cl. this general. character, which also serves as a stopper tor the bottle or other receptacle in conjunction with which it is to be used, to provide a syringe that will be sterile and sanitary at all times, thereby to eliminate the necessity of constant and repeated sterilization and to produce a more e'llective, compact and economical article.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel unitary, COiIllJlllQt stopper and bulb syringe, comprising an upper substantially spherical, resilient, C(Jnl] ')lSSll'Jl portion having an air chamber formed therein, said spherical portion being constricted at the base thereof, and continued downwardly in a relatively thickened, conical ta 'icriug stopper or body portion adapted to fit snugly in the mouth 011? a bottle and extend thereinto, and having a passage extending through said stopper body or tapering conical portion and leading into said air chainher, the construction being such that the solution trickles or is injected slowly into the tract to be treated, thereby preventing the occurrence of spasms or inl'lannnation of the genital organs and enabling the solution to come in full contact with the area to be treated.

My invention further cons ts of the combination with a bottle oil. a shg itly modified construction oi combined stopper and bulb syringe, in which I employ an elongated tu bular extension dotachably secured in the stopper body and extending into saidbottle said combined stopper and bulb syringe, and said elongated tubular extension, coacting as a unit and being readily insertible into or withdrawn from said bottle.

For the purpose ol illustrating my invention, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice, satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged. and organized and that my invention is not limited fill till

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to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a novel combined stopper and bulb syringe, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional View of the same shown applied to a bottle, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 represents a perspective View of a modified construction of combined stopper and bulb syringe in detached position.

Figure 4 represents a vertical sectional View ofthe device seen in Figure 3 as applied to a bottle, the latter being shown in dotted lines, and the tube being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, 1 designates my novel construction of a combined stopper and bulb syringe, comprising the thickened body portion 2, having the neck 2", merging into and terminating in the upper, resilient, hollou spherical or bulb portion 3, the interior of which forms the compression chamber 4. The thickened body portion 2 is continued downwardly to form the sli htly conical portion 6 which is adapted tig itly to fit in the mouth or neck of a bottle 17 to prevent spilling, leakage or evaporation, as will be understood from Figure 2. The slightly conical portion 6 is continued downwardly, in a tapering conical portion 7 which merges into the pointed terminal 8. 5 designates a passage extending through the body portion 2 from the chamber 4 to the point 8, as will be understood from Figure 2.

Thus when it is'desired to use my novel combined stopper and bulb syringe, it is merely necessary to withdraw the conical portion 6 from engagement with the bottle neck, compress the bulb, and then immerse the end 8 in the solution contained in said bottle, with the resilient compressible or bulb portion 3 in its compressed or collapsed condition and finally to release the pressure on said bulb 3, whereupon, due to its inherent resiliency, itwill tend to resume its normal spherical shape, thereby drawing or sucking into the chamber 4, through the passage 5, the desired amount of the solution contained in the bottle 17.

I injected at any desired point in the usual hollow, spherical or bulb portion, the interior The solution can then be of which forms the compression chamber 15. 16 designates a lower conical tapering bod portion adapted to fit tightly in the nccr of a bottle 17, as will be understood from Figure 4.

The operation, purpose and function of this modified construction are substantially the same above set forth, except that by employing the extension tube 12, l facilitate the removal by suction of all of the contents of the bottle 17 without the necessity of tilting the latter, and provide a more ell'ective syringe in cases where it is necessary to inject the solution some distance into internal organs, as is the case in the treatment of urethral and vaginal infections.

It is to be understood that the extension tube 12 may be made of glass, hard or vulcanized rubber, metal. or any other suitable material. The portions 3 and 1 1 may be of rubber or any other suitable material. The flange 11, when in the assembled position seen in Figure 4, will be tightly and frictionally held to its seat within the bulb 14, so

that the tube 12 and the bulb 14: may be manually manipulated. as a unit and in both of the embodiments of my invention the. compressible bulb and the bottle stopper or body portion are an integral, unitary structure, capable of performing the dual function of a syringe and a. bottle closure as is evident.

It will further be understood that it is within the scope of my invention to elongate the conical portion 7 of the combined stopper and bulb syringe, shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, to any desired extent.

Thus, after the syringe element has been used, the same is washed and replaced in position with respect to the bottle, (see Figs. 2 and where the tapering portion 7 or tube 12 thereof are protected against contamination and breakage and the syringe is thus ready for immediate use at all times.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that I have devised a new and useful combined stopper and bulb syringe which, in addition to being elfective and sanitary, also occupies a mininmm amount of symcc when not in use and can be manufactured at a minimum cost. It will also be apparent that the construw tion of my novel bulb syringe requires the solution to trickle or be injected slo\vl without much force-thereby preventing the spasm and undue irritation or inflammation of the infected organ being treated, which is a desirable function in devices of this character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A combined integral stopper and bulb syringe, comprising an upper, resilient, hollow portion, having a compression chamber formed therein and outwardly bulged at the Ian ltlil llii base thereof, so as to form a horizontally disposed internal integral seat, an integral pendant, conical body portion below said bulged portion and adapted tightly to lit in the inouth oi a bottle as an integral stopper therefor, an extension tube having an upper ilange positioned on said seat, Within said integral bulged portion and extending downwardly into said bottle, and an upper, annular, internal, horizontal shoulder formed in said bulged portion above said seat to prevent the upward displacement of said extension tube.

2. The combination with a bottle of a oonr bined integral stopper and bulb syringe, comprising an upper, resilient, hollow portion having a compression chamber formed therein and outwardly bulged at the base thereo1 to form an annular integral internal seat, an integral, pendant, conical body por tion adapted tightly to fit in the mouth of: abottle as an integral stopper to seal the same, an extension tube having an upper flange seated Within'said integral annular seat within said integral bulged portion and extending downwardly into said bottle, and an, upper, annular, internal, horizontal shoulder formed in said bulged portion above said seat to prevent the upward di placement of said extension tube.

HENRY K. MULFORD. 

